Recently in Fashion Category

Q I just bought a wonderful black sequin jacket at a great price. Unfortunately, I’m not quite sure what to wear it with! Is it possible to wear it with something besides formal clothes?

A. You can absolutely wear your sequin jacket with casual clothes - in fact, we encourage it! Pair it with a pretty feminine top or even a simple tank and jeans for a casual chic look. Take inspiration from the Iisli Women’s “Tiffany” Lace Cotton Blazer shown here (from bloomingdales.com) to see how great a plain white tee and dark jeans look with the sparkly blazer. Try it also with a day dress or even a pair of man-tailored trousers for some more dressy/daytime pairings.

Q. Once I finally succumbed to the legging phase, I realized I don’t look half bad in black, stretchy, cropped (mid-calf) pants. Unfortunately, leggings AREN’T pants (or at least I can’t wear them that way). So I’d love to find some slim, black, cropped pants that LOOK like leggings, but flatter like pants. I’ve had no luck in my search.

A. We love a challenge! We searched for cropped pants that have the look of leggings but the substance of a pant. Here are our picks:

Q. I heard that satin will no longer be in this summer, I recently bought and already own a few satin tops that are really cute and I can combine with several other clothing items. Can I still wear them and not look outdated? Please advise…

A. Of course you can wear satin this summer! Don’t worry so much about what is “in” or “out” - if you love something and feel good in it, then wear it. Yes, fashion can be fickle, but other than super trendy items, most items (and fabrics) can be worn for years without going out of style. In the case of your satin tops, it is more about the silhouette of the items than the fabric when considering whether they are stylish or not.

Here are several pretty satin tops to wear now, this summer and for years to come:

Q. I have been invited to a wedding in which the attire is listed as “formal resort wear”. I have no idea what this means. This is a winter wedding in a cold weather climate. Please help me.

A. I’m having trouble figuring out why a bride chose “formal resort wear” for a cold weather wedding - a wedding in the tropics, I understand. Bride’s prerogative, I guess!

Resort clothes are typically vibrant, playful and cheerful; made of lightweight fabrics intended for a winter getaway to a warm climate. Formal resort wear is usually a little less dressy than typical black tie or formal wear. My guess is that the bride wants you to wear pretty dressy dresses that are fun, festive and bright. Pair yours with pretty metallic sandals and playful jewelry and you should be set.

Since it will be chilly out, wear your usual dressy coat and take it off as soon as you get inside. Have fun, and pretend you’re on a tropical cruise somewhere!

Below are a few dresses suitable for a formal resort affair:

Q. I am attending a military ball. I have no idea what I should wear. I don’t want to be underdressed, but I also don’t want to look over dressed either. Also, I am a modest dresser. I like my dresses to have sleeves, basically. I am only 22, and the majority of modest dresses that I find look like they’re made for 50 year olds. Do you have any suggestions? Thanks.

A. You’re in luck! There are plenty of modest, yet stylish, dresses available this season, whether you are attending a military ball or a holiday soiree. Depending on your comfort level, the key to looking youthful is to show a little skin, whether it’s a scoop neck, some leg in the form of a shorter dress or even a sheer fabric that shows skin while still covering up. Also look for touches of metallic or sparkle that add stylish flair.

There’s no need to worry about being too overdressed or underdressed with these picks: